Anyone has experience with ripped/torn claw? Cat's Quick has been clipped

*reposting this here from "CAT HEALTH" forum.

My girl jet tore off her claw. I'm not sure when, but I noticed it sunday evening when I was clipping all my kitties claws. the claw she tore off was on her left hind paw. I hadn't realized any sooner if anything was wrong because she was just being her usual self, she was eating normally, using the litter box, and walking around hopping and jumping off of stuff normally.

When i found her sunday evening, i cleaned her paw, and tried to keep it covered by using on of my socks as a bandage. yesterday morning before work i checked on her, but at that time when i touched her paw she yelped, and i noticed she had puss. it was infected. After work i took her to the vet. and the vet told me, that she managed to completely tear off ALL nail, so all she had there was her quick...which was now exposed, and infected. He said i could leave it alone, and give her antibiotics, and hope that she doesn't get infected again, because her quick is exposed...or, she could have a procedure done, where they clip the quick off as well, and then the new nail grows out, it will grow out as the quick, with the nail over it..and he recommended this was way better for her. I went ahead with it...and she is now home..with a bright pink cast on her hind leg.

Has anyone had experience with the procedure my girl went through? how did your cat's nail grow back. What was the average time that it took for that to happen? Just some advice...So I guess I know what to expect.

Thanks.

Pipsqueak tore off his nail one time. I figured out it was from a metal, decorative table that I had in the kitchen with holes on the table top. :slant: The quick was exposed too. Took him to the vet and he just gave him a shot of covenia for infection probability. He put some type of powder on the claw and told me to use Corn Starch for a day or two and it really worked! I can't remember how long it took for the complete nail to regrow but it was rather quick that it healed. There was another time that (same cat :lol3 cracked and tore another nail and did have to have it surgically removed and bandaged for a few days. Probably from the same darn table. I am sure Jet will be just fine now and that nail will regrow within a few weeks time. I remember the nail looked a bit different from the other nails for good month or so but caught up rather quickly.

feralvr
Thanks for that. I had never heard of having the quick surgically removed or cut, as is what happened with jet. I was a bit worried. She is recovering fine. Being her usual princess self.... Trying to figure out why she has a cast on her foot and trying to shake it off. Thanks for sharing your experience. Now I know what to look for. I tried to google this but not much out there on the Internet about this. The search results keep pulling up info on declawing.

Tavi tore off 90% of a hind paw nail once.  The vet surgically removed the rest of the nail, gave him an antibiotic shot, and that was pretty much that.  We weren't given anything to put on the wound or any special instructions.  It healed quickly and the nail grew back before I knew it (can't recall exactly how long it took, but it was surprisingly fast).  

The only thing you need to be mindful of is the state of the litter box.  Keeping it as clean as possible will help prevent infection.  

Sending healing vibes to Jet 

the3rdname said:

 
Tavi tore off 90% of a hind paw nail once.  The vet surgically removed the rest of the nail, gave him an antibiotic shot, and that was pretty much that.  We weren't given anything to put on the wound or any special instructions.  It healed quickly and the nail grew back before I knew it (can't recall exactly how long it took, but it was surprisingly fast).  

The only thing you need to be mindful of is the state of the litter box.  Keeping it as clean as possible will help prevent infection.  

Sending healing vibes to Jet 

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Thank you @the3rdname

She has a cast around the foot that had the quick surgically removed (also a hind leg). I recently switched the cats over to crystal litter, so its maintained and always clean (i clean it 3x a day now, stir the crystals, and remove any solid wastes because it's so much easier than cleaning out a box with clay litter hahah)

The vet didn't give my girl any antibiotic shots tho...just sent me home with oral antibiotic and 3 days worth of pain killers, and a cast on her leg that's not to be removed until next Tuesday.

I hope Jet's claw grows back quickly too. 

Ritz lost most of a claw due to a battle with a carton of eggs in a plastic bag, not nearly as bad as your cat's. I watched for signs of infection. And the claw grew back in about two weeks. I did keep the claw as a souvenir-and made sure to keep plastic bags away from inquiring minds,.

Lamiatron said:

 

the3rdname said:

 
Tavi tore off 90% of a hind paw nail once.  The vet surgically removed the rest of the nail, gave him an antibiotic shot, and that was pretty much that.  We weren't given anything to put on the wound or any special instructions.  It healed quickly and the nail grew back before I knew it (can't recall exactly how long it took, but it was surprisingly fast).  

The only thing you need to be mindful of is the state of the litter box.  Keeping it as clean as possible will help prevent infection.  

Sending healing vibes to Jet 

Click to expand...

Thank you @the3rdname

She has a cast around the foot that had the quick surgically removed (also a hind leg). I recently switched the cats over to crystal litter, so its maintained and always clean (i clean it 3x a day now, stir the crystals, and remove any solid wastes because it's so much easier than cleaning out a box with clay litter hahah)

The vet didn't give my girl any antibiotic shots tho...just sent me home with oral antibiotic and 3 days worth of pain killers, and a cast on her leg that's not to be removed until next Tuesday.

I hope Jet's claw grows back quickly too. 

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The cast is a good idea.  I obsessed over Tavi's healing toe for days and a cast would've provided some peace of mind.  I've already told the cats they're getting new litter boxes after we move (pretty soon!) that will be the crystals/pee pad combo.  I get so tired of cleaning up clay litter tracked all over the house; can't wait to dump it!

the3rdname

I recommend crystal litter. Its been working out for me really well soo far. Just remember to gradually transition to crystal litter. I had 1 box with crystal, and 2 boxes with clay.

Jet got her cast removed today. She keeps licking her paw. But the vet said its okay as she's completely healed now. Shes being her usual cutie self

Lamiatron said:

@the3rdname

I recommend crystal litter. Its been working out for me really well soo far. Just remember to gradually transition to crystal litter. I had 1 box with crystal, and 2 boxes with clay.

Jet got her cast removed today. She keeps licking her paw. But the vet said its okay as she's completely healed now. Shes being her usual cutie self

Click to expand...

Glad to hear Jet is doing well    I'll keep the litter tip in mind- thanks!